Pat in Perú
Dear All No. 11 October 2006
I write this as I am having a few days ‘sick’ with a nasty cough and bronchial trouble. I remember being ill around the same time last year. The Lima weather is damp, especially up at church, and we are changing seasons, now going into spring, which means it blows hot then cold from moment to moment. I have also been on the go a lot recently, more than usual if that’s possible, without a proper break away from things. Anyway this ‘rest’ has made me get on with some MA study, essay due again in December, organising home leave itinerary and reading a bit. I have just finished reading again Henri Nouwen’s “Return of the Prodigal Son’, very inspiring and challenging!
As mentioned life continues busy; August saw the departure of Mavis Crispin and Dan & Pamela Caldwell to the UK and David Gonzales to Arequipa. Loosing so many friends at once could be called careless but it has rather left a gap both in terms of friendships and also ministry here in the Diocese. Bea Magowan popped in and then out again either side of a MMI medical campaign.
August also saw the inauguration of the new therapy centre for the disabled ministry “Shalom”. There are therapy sessions twice a week and also a weekly meeting for crafts for the older children and mums, both to generate some income from selling items made and as occupational therapy for the adolescents. Many of the disabled children are not baptised so pray that we can de preparation together with their parents and plan for baptisms before the end of the year.
At the beginning of September 6 of us from Jesus El Nazareno joined 60 women from the various churches in the Diocese for a weekend retreat. The theme was ‘Signs of the times’, taken from the World Day of Prayer for this year. It was an encouraging and uplifting time and a chance for study, prayer, relaxation and ministry together.
In Jesus El Nazareno a second Alpha course has begun with about 15 people meeting each Thursday evening. Rev. Juan Marentes continues to help out and we have a mix of watching the DVD or Rev. Juan giving a talk. The first course saw much fruit, both with new people coming into church and also church members more committed and inspired to serve. Praise the Lord! There were also two confirmations a couple of weeks ago, Angelica, from the original sewing group, and Rudy a young man who has been attending church for a while now. Both were encouraged in their faith through the Alpha course and responded to commit themselves to Christ and be confirmed.
“Hideju”, Sons & daughters of Jesus, is the name selected by the adolescents for their group which continues to meet each Saturday evening with 15 – 20 attending. New young people continue to come along and we have just finished a series on the parables. There is a ‘Happening’ youth event planned for November, we hope to send about 7 of the adolescents from the group Hideju, pray that parents will be sympathetic and all will be able to attend. This weekend we have a Diocesan youth festival with a day of games, events, sports, dance and a concert. Hideju are presenting a dance from Cusco and the worship group are presenting various songs, some of their own composition. There are also teams of football and volleyball. The worship group are also planning on making a CD, this has been in the pipeline for some time, and we hope to have it ready to bring with me to the UK to share with you. They have been practising hard recently despite many other commitments of work, families, study etc. It is also the church anniversary this weekend so having the festival is a good way of celebrating together and then on Sunday we shall have a special service with hopefully a cake to celebrate. The church families from San Gabriel are now dispersed. Just one family continues to come over to services and events in El Nazareno. Many are struggling with paying rented accommodation as no other viable solution was offered by the local government. Pray we come together for a service soon but it is difficult to keep incontact.
The next couple of months prove to be hectic, so nothing new there then! I am part of the group now organising teams, a job which Dan Caldwell did, and we have 4 or 5 teams or groups coming in around the same time. I am specifically looking after the arrangements for a construction team from Christchurch, Plano, coming to start build a new church and medical / community centre. We have had delays with site issues and permission ‘red tape’ so please pray that by the time the team arrive all will be settled and they can get started on the footings, columns and retaining walls which are needed due to the slope of the land. I am also planning my home leave visits and thankfully dates are fitting together OK so far. I shall be home just after Christmas and be in the UK for 3 months. I look forward to meeting up with most of you at some point. Ask your church rep. for details and when dates are confirmed I will put them on the web for your information and prayers. I am considering moving nearer to church so that I don’t have such long bus journeys, pray that I can find a suitable and safe place before leaving at the end of December.
I end with an exciting piece of news which is that ordinations are planned for 26th November when I, God willing, will be ordained Deacon. I feel it is a timely and important step in my ministry here and ask for your prayers as the date approaches. My dear friend Helen Steven from Tunbridge Wells will be coming to visit which will be a great support and joy.
Well I suppose that had better be it for the moment, please look up my web page which has more details and photos of activities,
http://www.patinperulatest.blogspot.com/Prayer requests:
· For the second Alpha course for weekend retreat in November
· For music group, Diego, Jhonny, Wilber, Joey, Judith and Pilar, and recording the CD
· For Shalom group, therapy, workshops and baptism classes
· For ordination preparation and Helen’s visit
· For teams and the logistics and organisation to go smoothly
· For David in Arequipa and his ministry within the parishes there
· For the ‘Happening’ youth retreat in November
· For my home leave visits and planning
· For my MA study and impending essay
· For finding a suitable flat
· For recovery from my bronchial problems
· For the planning and arrangements to leave things organised in Jesus El Nazareno during my 3 month absence
With much love and many blessings,
Pat
